WHEN THE GROUND MOVES! A PUBLICATION ABOUT GEOHAZARDS FOR GRADES 9-12 AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC

The North Carolina Geological Survey (NCGS), in conjunction with the Emergency Management Section of the N.C. Department of Crime Control and Public Safety, published a citizen's guide to geologic hazards for a state geohazards program. The guide, “When the Ground Moves! A Citizen's Guide to Geologic Hazards in North Carolina,” is a 20-page overview of several of the major hazards, both natural and man made, that occur in our state. Some of these hazards include landslides, coastal erosion, earthquakes, sinkholes and abandoned mines. This publication is the first step in the discovery process for local and statewide populations to learn what hazards may affect them where they live, and is intended to help citizens make informed decisions. Each section of the guide describes a geologic hazard with examples from within the state that give the reader the “in my backyard” connection. This colorful publication is written for non-geologists and is correlated to the Standard Course of Study, as developed by the N.C. Department of Public Instruction. It is available to teachers and the general public. The guide has been distributed at the annual N.C. Science Teachers Association Professional Development Institute and at local teacher workshops. Further informal education opportunities utilizing the publication occur at local festivals, boy scout and girl scout troop meetings, and school presentations. The NCGS is continuing its educational emphasis and is currently developing a similar publication, a citizen's guide to landslide hazards, to address this particular hazard in more detail.